KYIV — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not rule out sending Canadian troops to Ukraine as part of a possible ceasefire deal, when asked about the prospect during a peace and security summit Monday in Kyiv.
"We will work with our neighbours on it, but everything is on the table," Trudeau said at a joint media conference with other leaders.
The prime minister was in the Ukrainian capital alongside a dozen European leaders to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Pushed following the news conference to expand on his comment about troops, Trudeau said the "first priority is to make sure that there is a ceasefire and that we set up the conditions for a lasting peace."
"When we establish the way we're going to keep a lasting peace ... Canada will be involved, but we're not at that position yet," Trudeau told reporters.
Trudeau added that any deployment of Canadian soldiers "is something to take very, very seriously."
He said Ottawa will have some role in pushing back on "the forces of chaos that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin is trying to unleash on the world, to undermine all of our democracies."
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said last week that Canada was interested in "more Canadians being involved in protecting Ukraine," as countries like the U.K. say they're ready to deploy troops to uphold a possible peace deal.
The Kyiv meeting comes amid dismay across the continent at Washington holding talks with Moscow that exclude Ukraine.
"We will have different perspectives from time to time on the best way forward," Trudeau said Monday. "Those will be worked out in forums like this, or at the G7 forum or elsewhere. But we are united in our values."
Earlier Monday, Trudeau announced that Canada will provide $5 billion in aid to Ukraine using revenues from frozen Russian assets, after years of Ottawa promising to forfeit holdings associated with Russia's government and its oligarchs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Canada on Monday for its support to date, particularly training soldiers and helping supply "Canadian high-level optic technologies" for drones on the battlefield.
"Your people helped us at the very beginning of the war," Zelenskyy said.
Support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms and with its territory intact has remained strong among Europeans, despite U.S. support for Ukraine wavering in recent weeks.
U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine for starting the war, and claimed Zelenskyy lacks legitimacy. Canada and Europe have steadfastly laid all the blame on Russia for an unprovoked attack on another sovereign nation.
The war dates from 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea after pro-democracy protests in Ukraine. On Feb. 24, 2022, Moscow launched a full-scale invasion.
"This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way," Trudeau said at the summit table.
"This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia's desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire."
Regional leaders pointed to that threat Monday, and said the continent needs to form a coherent response.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Europeans need to present a strategy to the Americans, or they'll continue being left out of the conversation.
"In Europe, we need to get our act together," he said.
"I'm getting a little bit frustrated about this debate on boots on the ground, because that sort of misses the whole point," he said, suggesting Europe can provide air, marine and intelligence support to Ukrainians who are already holding territory.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said his country needs clarity on whether there would be a ceasefire backed by "immediate and strong" retaliation if Russia violated its terms.
"Are we speaking of peacekeeping or peace enforcement?" he asked, arguing it's "premature" to get into specifics.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has an estimate of how many troops it needs to maintain the peace, but added Kyiv won't let the Russians know that number until there is a viable plan to maintain peace.
"Of course, I know the number (of) what we need. And of course we will share it — firstly not in the open conversation, not to prepare Russians for this," he said.
Trudeau struck a note of urgency in his opening remarks Monday.
"We can't wait. The moment to stop this war of aggression, the moment to defend democracy, the moment to stand for our shared values — is now. So let us seize it."
— With files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa and The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2025.
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
